Weak D in Pregnancy

Abstract

It is important to determine if a patient is RhD positive or negative for the purposes of transfusion and pregnancy. Occasionally, the RhD type is not able to be resulted or the result differs from results obtained in the past due to underlying genetic variation in the RHD gene. In these cases, it is important to do further testing using genotype testing to determine if the woman should be managed as RhD positive or RhD negative. If a woman of child-bearing potential makes anti-D antibody, her future pregnancies are at risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) if a fetus is RhD positive. RhIg is used to protect RhD negative women from this HDFN due to anti-D sensitization. These critical decisions are informed by clarifying the RhD type.